Animal Feed Cargo Catches Fire in Ireland

Emergency response crew were called Tuesday to Warrenpoint Harbour in Ireland to attend fire reported in the cargo hold of a Gibraltar-flagged cargo ship.

The Warrenpoint Harbour Authority Port Control said it was contacted by the Captain of the MV Cimbris at approximately 8:30 a.m. reporting that the ship’s animal feed cargo was overheating within the cargo hold.

Several units from the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service were sent to attend the fire and established a safety perimeter around the vessel. Upon further inspection, firefighters discovered two fires originating in the animal feed.

Crews were able to bring the fire under control and continued to monitor the situation throughout the day.

Peter Conway, Chief Executive of the Harbour Authority, confirmed that the MV Cimbris had arrived in port earlier this week from Riga, Latvia with 3,000 tons of animal feed, 2,000 of which had already been discharged.

The port remains for business and the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service reports that there was no significant risk to life or the environment.